Cases of stocktheft decreased by 17% in 2011 after 12 148 were recorded the previous year, police said yesterday.
The reduction was confirmed by police national co-ordinator for anti stocktheft Assistant Commissioner Bernard Dumbura at an anti stocktheft meeting with livestock and meat industry stakeholders.
I am glad to inform you cases of stocktheft decreased by 17 %, from 13 849 in 2010 to 12 148 in 2011.
Of the 12 148 beasts which were stolen last year, we recovered 3, 952, Dumbura said.
He added although stocktheft statistics had generally decreased, areas like Seke and Mahusekwa (Mashonaland East) remained problematic as rustlers were supplying scores of unlicensed butcheries mushrooming in Chitungwiza.
Some butcheries are operating without licences in Chitungwiza and we are taking our officers to task on why these people are operating without licences. We do not want any corruption. We will not tolerate police officers who will just leave you to operate your butcheries without licences, he said.
People bring in meat early in the morning and distribute it to butcheries before sunrise.
We are worried because these are the people causing our police to engage in corrupt activities as they are bribed to allow them to proceed with beasts with no letters of clearance, he added.
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Stakeholders in the meat industry said they end up running their butcheries without licences because processes to obtain permits were cumbersome.
